Indians issued travel advisory in Nigeria

India has issued an advisory to its citizens in Nigeria, asking them to limit their exposure to areas where radical Islamic sect Boko Haram is active.

The Indian High Commission in an advisory placed on it's website also warned Indian crew-members of ships to be careful while plying their ships in Gulf of Guinea, dominated by pirates.

The advisory said Indians living in Nigeria have come under unprecedented level of insecurity and "were, occasionally, unfortunate victims in the past years."

The advisory mentioned some Indian victims of violence in Nigeria, which included one killed and six injured on January 20, last year during a multiple attack by Islamic fundamentalists Boko Haram in the northern city of Kano.

"An unprovoked but apparently targeted armed attack by unidentified armed group on the premises of Indian-owned M/s Adebar Trades and Industries Ltd in Borno State capital Maiduguri (July 25) resulted in brutal murder of two Indians and serious injury to third Indian." the High Commission stated, adding that it noted that this was first time in recent years that Indian nationals and their establishments were targeted for attack.

"Indian crew-members of ships plying in Gulf of Guinea have been victims of attacks and kidnapping by pirates," it said.

"Three Indian crew members of oil tanker SP Brussels were kidnapped (December 19); they are still being held," the Indian mission said.

It specifically urged Indians to limit their exposure to terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, piracy and other insecurity prone areas of Nigeria.

Northern part of oil rich Nigeria has come under terrorist attacks by an Islamic sect Boko Haram that has killed thousands, through suicide attacks and shootings.

The southern part of the African most populous nation has seen much of kidnappings and piracy.